Thanks so much for all the great comments! I'm feeling good about this fic again :) So, next chapter!

CHAPTER 35

It's a Hard Knock Life

Zayel wasn't accustomed to being summoned. In fact the last time it had happened, the person responsible had been engulfed in a fiery death as Zayel's dagger pierced the other demon's heart. So, when he found himself pulled unceremoniously from his chambers after thoroughly beating his minion again for allowing the witch to escape, he was fully in the mood to kill whoever had interrupted his punishment session. However, once he fell to the ground in his new location, he realized murdering the perpetrators was out of the question.

The Triad in all their dark glory were surrounding him, their spiritual forms still as intimidating as their corporeal. Having been a youth during their last resurrection, Zayel easily recognized the incarnations of the powerful three were entirely new. One tall, powerful, and stoic in his majestic dark skin. One short and broad with few hairs on his head, his pale skin iridescent in the dim lighting. The third, for the first time in nearly a hundred cycles as far as Zayel could recall, was a woman.

It was she who spoke first. "You're the one they call Zayel. We have heard much about you, Brother."

"Demons were gathered to discuss the fate of a witch under Charmed protection," the short man went on. "You called them together?"

"Yes, your excellencies," he bowed. "I have seen the future. She is the one now carrying the pure hearted witch, the one who will have the knowledge to topple the balance of power for centuries."

"We are aware," the regal third member replied, almost offended at the explanation. "We see glimpses of what's to come. What you seek to accomplish is impossible."

Zayel burned with indignation. "I beg to differ your High One. I had the witch in my grasp not two nights past."

"Yet, she is not with you now," the woman smirked. "Your pride will get you vanquished, Zayel. Unless you curb it to our will instead of your own quest for glory."

"What is your will? If I may be so bold?"

"You seek to kill the wrong woman," she answered coyly. "The witch you hunt already conceived the child. There is no stopping the event now. There never was– the boy was meant to exist. What's more, as the child grows, so too will the witch's power. He feeds her his, knowing even from the womb the danger he puts her in. The further along she gets, the more powerful she will become."

"So would not it be best to strike her down now?" Zayel countered, frustrated.

The dark member of the council narrowed his eyes at whom he considered a lowly demon. "You have a one track mind. We offer you a new mission. One with every possible chance for success."

"I have created a Vetala who still remains in my company– a miscarriage would be simple."

The three members paused a moment, their eyes meeting one another in silent deliberation. At last the short man answered, "Perhaps. Perhaps not. It is an option we will keep in mind. For now, if you wish to live, you will do as we bid. We have known of the coming of this child for a year. However, we know of another important person in the child's life who is far more vulnerable."

"Who?"

"The child's whitelighter," the dark skinned leader answered. "We had a bounty on her head last year, but the Twice Blessed managed to intimidate the players. If you have the courage, we have the way."

"Go on."

"She is cut off from the Halliwells. Still nursing her poor broken heart," the woman supplied. "Only protected by two other pacifists. I feel certain a demon of your genius can manage to take out three pathetic whitelighters."

"Why is the whitelighter so important? Why not focus on the mother?"

The female's eyes went white, her head tilting back. Her voice was numb as she uttered: "An error in judgment. Mother and unborn child both in peril. Only the healing hands of the child's whitelighter may save the early arrival."

Zayel grinned maliciously. "Then it is done."

000

Prue had agreed to meet Phoebe at her little sister's home in one of the suburbs of the city. If she was being honest with herself, the former witch was more nervous than she'd been in years. It was one thing seeing her sisters again and talking about how much they'd missed one another, it was quite another trying to find a way to fit each other back in the new lives each had built for themselves.

Landing and parking her 2019 Chevy Soarer on the curb by Phoebe's house, Prue felt her stomach tighten as her heart started to beat faster. She was about to enter into her little sister's new life, about to see everything Phoebe had accomplished and created while the oldest sister had stayed almost entirely the same for the last two decades– secure in her routine. She'd seen interviews of the famous Ask Phoebe, but even knowing all the facts– great husband, three girls, best selling book– Prue only really knew the little sister she was about to spend the day with was a stranger to her.

Taking a deep breath, she removed the ignition lighter, stowing it away in her purse as she exited the vehicle and marched up to the bright white door of the cottage style home. Keeping on her classic I'm-Prue-Halliwell-Unafraid/Independent/Self-assured-face-of- total- fakeness, she rang the bell.

A moment later the door was answered by a girl of about thirteen. She looked so much like Phoebe, for a moment, Prue felt her breath catch. The child had the same long brown hair and deep doe eyes as her mother. The young teen smiled unsurely, "Hi. Are you Aunt Prue?"

Aunt Prue. She loved the sound of that. The smile on her face was one hundred percent genuine as she answered, "I am. You must be Melinda. Wow, you are just stunning."

The young girl lit up. "Really?"

"Of course. Every Halliwell woman is," she added with a wink.

Melinda, face still glowing at the praise, gestured for her Aunt to come in. She then turned to call up the stairs, "Mom, Aunt Prue is here. Dad, we're going to be late for school."

A second later a tall, dark and quite handsome man came rushing from the kitchen, one little girl on his back and the other older one holding his hand. He squatted, allowing the youngest of the three to get down. He then held out a hand to the guest. "Hi, Prue. I'm Coop. These little princesses are Prue," he pointed to the second oldest of the three then the smallest, "and Patty."

"Your name is Prue too?" the middle child questioned in awe, her features looking much more like her father.

"Sure is. It's nice to meet you." She then turned to the youngest, who she guessed to be only about seven. "And Patty. I like your dress."

The little girl in a fuzzy pink dress lined in fake white fur twirled to show it off. "Auntie Piper and Uncle Leo got it for me for my birthday."

"It's really pretty."

Coop gave Prue a dazzling smile. "It's an honor. Really. I've heard so much about you. So have the girls. We were all super excited to meet you."

"Dad, school," Melinda reminded, tapping her foot impatiently.

The Cupid rolled his eyes at his daughter's new found attitude. He wasn't sure how it had happened, but her cousin Chris was definitely rubbing off on her. He gave an apologetic look to his newly acquainted sister-in-law. "I'm so sorry to cut this short, but education beckons."

"Of course."

The three young girls shouted chorus' of "Bye, Aunt Prue" as they headed out the door, followed by their father who was desperately trying to grab everything he needed for them off the small side table before finally shooting Prue one last encouraging look and disappearing out the front door.

"Prue," Phoebe greeted from the top of the stairs. "I take it I missed the girls and Coop?"

"Just left."

"Shoot. I hate not saying goodbye. I was on the phone with Piper. Apparently, the same demons who attacked me yesterday, attacked her this morning. She blew them up, but since Wyatt vanquished the last set, it must mean they either can reform or they're some large group or maybe unable to be vanquished till you get their leader– like the Kazi demons."

"Haven't you found anything in the Book yet?"

Phoebe shook her head. "Nada. It seems our ancestors haven't come across them before."

"So, in other words, we have no clue who they are and therefore, no idea what they want or how to permanently vanquish them."

"That pretty much sums it up."

Prue smiled at the all too familiar banter. It seemed some things would never change at least. She folded her arms over her chest, trying to think. "I could check with the Elders– see what they know. Chances are, as usual, they won't know a thing."

"We could go to the magic school and look through their books," Phoebe suggested. "If we're going to find out what these guys are, the best chance is in the library."

"Ah, Pheebs, I never thought I'd actually hear you say you wanted to go to a library," the older sister teased.

Phoebe scrunched up her face. "Ha, ha, Prue. Very funny. For your information, I ended up being really good at the whole school thing. Got my masters and everything."

Prue smiled softly, her blue-grey eyes full of pride. "I know. I read it somewhere. You've always been smart enough to do whatever you wanted to, Phoebe. I just always worried you lacked the drive. You have no idea how proud I am of you for proving me wrong."

"Do my ears deceive me? Did the Prue Halliwell just admit she was wrong about something?"

The whitelighter laughed, rolling her eyes. "Yes, Phoebe. I did. I also said I'm proud of you. You've created one heck of a life for yourself. Great husband, three amazing little girls, the perfect career. . ."

"You have no idea how much I've wondered over the years if I was making you proud, Prue. I was just starting to get my life back on track when you were taken from us, and I just wished you could have seen me really change and become more like my idol. . .you."

Prue ducked her head, trying to hide how much the words really affected her. Clearing her throat she suggested, "We should get to the magic school and find out what those demons are before they attack again. I'll orb us."

The younger sister noticed the reserved nature of the other, her brow creasing as she remembered how long it had taken Prue to let she and Piper into her heart before. Not until they were witches and Barbas attacked would she even say she loved them. It didn't take her being an empath to feel the fear of rejection and of being hurt residing in her big sister again.

She would let it go for now. The reunion was difficult for everyone in different ways. For Phoebe, it was feeling like the screw-up she used to be, always considered immature and selfish. She had to fight to remember she was a grown woman now, and her life was nothing like it had been then. So, if it took Prue time to open up again, so be it. It would happen eventually.

Phoebe moved down the stairs, offering her hand to Prue. "Let's go."

The whitelighter took her sister's hand, transporting them into the great hall of the magic school where they took the short walk required to get to the library. Prue had only been to magic school once before, summoned there by a young charge she used to have. She'd been in shock when she found out it existed. She'd also been upset an institution such as this hadn't been revealed to she and her sisters earlier; it would have helped them become better witches a lot faster.

An hour and twenty-odd books later, Prue found what they were looking for. She brought the old text back to the table her sister was working at, and plopped it down next to her. She then hit the page with the back of her hand. "Sonshi. They're related to Grimlocks. Except instead of stealing an innocent child's vision, they steal people's emotions. Then they feed on the person's physical form."

"Eew," Phoebe shuddered. "Cannibalistic demons. Or would it be considered cannibalism since they're not human?"

Prue went on, "Anyway. . .It says here they have no feelings in order to better absorb those of others. Absorbing human emotions actually manages to make them stronger somehow. Plus, if a Sonshi manages to steal all the emotions from their victim, they'll make a person so numb it will actually override the person's natural instinct of self-preservation. This way they can consume a still living being."

"Okay, once again I'm going to have to say eeeew."

"Agreed. But, there is good news. They're vanquished the same way Grimlocks are: Potion made from Shisandra Root."

"Does it say anything about how to find them?"

Prue skimmed the rest of the page. "No."

"Good thing I've gotten better at this then," Phoebe replied, putting her hand on the image of the demons provided in the book and closing her eyes.

After a minute or so, the psychic gasped, her face tightening in the way it always did when she had a vision. When it had passed, she opened her eyes. "Golden gate park. Do you remember the spot David was taken?"

"Acutely."

"There's an alcove near there. They seem to be camped out there waiting for their next meal."

"Then why go all the way to your apartment and risk taking on a Charmed One? People go through that park all day long. It's like a living buffet."

Phoebe let out a breath. "Feeding on me would have been like dining on a buffet with half the work. I'm an empath now, Prue. I have a never ending supply of emotions and no active power to use against them. It probably would have made them invincible."

"Yeah, well, now they'll never get the chance. We'll get the Root, make the potion and then go kick some demonic butt."

"I've missed hearing you say that."

"I've missed saying it."

Two hours later the women, prepared potion in hand, materialized in the alcove of the park. The three Sonshi who had attacked Phoebe the day before, and who had more than likely been the same ones to attack Piper this morning, were peering through the brush, keeping a look out for their next victim.

At the sound of the orb lights, the three demons turned toward the sound, eyeing the newcomers like children might view a candy store. They moved forward, their eyes dull as they stared numbly at Phoebe, who lowered the jar of vanquishing potion she had been holding.

"Phoebe?" Prue questioned. "Snap out of it."

The Charmed One shook her head, twisting off the lid of the jar and hurling a splash of the contents at the closest Sonshi. The demon began to burn like film under too hot a light, scorching into a flame before burning to nothing but ashes.

Meanwhile, Prue flipped one attacker onto his back, digging her heel into his throat while pouring her own potion into his gaping mouth. Her demon didn't even scream as his face started to melt away, his body lighting on fire until it too turned to ash.

The third demon started to run, but Prue orbed in front of him, swinging out her leg and knocking him to the ground. As the Sonshi fell, Phoebe poured the rest of her potion onto his chest, watching as he followed the same fate as his brothers.

"Nice job," Prue complimented.

"You too. Wow, it's weird isn't it?"

"What is?"

"Vanquishing evil together again."

Prue smiled faintly. "Yes, it is. Things aren't quite like they used to be."

"Are you kidding?" Phoebe replied. "We kicked demonic ass then, and we still do. Just a little easier these days than it was back then. More knowledge, more skills, more powers. Fewer demons on a week to week basis."

The older sister laughed softly. "I can imagine. Not many are stupid enough to challenge the Charmed Ones." Her face fell slightly, the fact hitting home yet again– she wasn't Charmed anymore.

"Prue, Sweetie, what's wrong?"

The whitelighter debated not saying anything. In the old days, she wouldn't have. She would have carried her burden alone. She'd lost a lot doing so. So, despite her gut telling her to keep to herself, she answered, "It's hard. Not being able to fight evil like I used to– with you guys."

"But you can again."

"My telekinesis is a lot weaker now, Pheebs. It's not Charmed magic, just regular whitelighter magic. I doubt I could throw a demon anymore."

Phoebe put her hand on her sister's arm. "You still have powers, Prue. And today proved you can still vanquish demons with the best of 'em. Just because you're not technically Charmed anymore doesn't mean you're any less of a threat to demons or any less of a help to us. Besides, even if you had no powers– we still have the chance to be a family again. Isn't that much more important anyway?"

Prue narrowed her eyes at her sister, a grin playing on her lips. "When did you get to be so wise, huh?"

"Comes from playing the role of the middle child for Piper and Paige. I think at the beginning, they fought more often than you and I ever did."

"Wow, impressive."

"Mmmhm. Speaking of Paige, don't you have lunch plans with her today?"

"Yeah, we're meeting at one o'clock at Piper's restaurant."

"Nervous?"

"No. Don't be silly, of course not."

Phoebe arched a brow. "Do you really want to lie to the empath?"

Prue glared at her. "Ooh, that is so not fair. Fine, a little. Happy?"

"Ecstatic. But, for the record, you have nothing to be worried about. Paige has really grown up too, and I think you guys are going to get along just fine. Just keep it simple. Get to know her and let her get to know you."

"Right. Simple," Prue muttered.

000

As Chris parked his truck in the back lot of the High School, he noticed Casey had been uncharacteristically quiet through the ride. Pulling the keys from the ignition, he put a hand on her arm, stopping her from getting out of the vehicle.

She turned to look at him questioningly.

"Just hold on. You seemed a little...off. Something up?"

"I have a bad feeling."

"Bad feeling?"

"Yeah. I don't know why. I just really don't want to walk through those doors today for whatever reason." Her brown eyes ducked below her sweeping bangs. "And I sort of need to ask you something, but don't know how."

"Case, think of it this way: What could you possibly say that would be worse than telling me you're pregnant?"

The young woman let out a short laugh. "Okay, true. It's kind of stupid. I just. . .I made an appointment last night to meet with a doctor next Tuesday, and I was sort of hoping you'd come with me."

"Of course, I will. Case, I told you before I will be with you every step of the way. Going to your doctor's appointments is a non-question. Why were you so worried about asking me that?"

She pushed her bangs back behind her ear. "It will make it all real, hearing it from the doctor's mouth and getting all those brochures about family planning while the doctor looks on in that condescending-higher-than-thou way they always seem to have. He'll start telling me about the pre-natal vitamins I'll need--plus who knows what other stuff-- and about how much it's going to cost and if I have any plan on how I'm going to pay for all of it. I don't know; it's not something I want to do, so I figured you wouldn't want to either."

Chris reached out to her, putting a hand on her cheek. "Casey, look at me. I'm going to make this as clear as I possibly can. I will do whatever I need to do to make this any degree easier for you. Whether it's holding back your hair as you puke from morning sickness, running out in the middle of the night for whatever disgusting food concoction you're craving, or just going to the doctor's appointments with you. We're in this together. So, don't be afraid to ask me for something. Just ask. If it's in my power to do it, I will."

She smiled brightly at him, her eyes glistening a little. She rolled them, wiping the moisture from them. "God, I don't know what's wrong with me. Last few days, I seem to get weepy at the drop of a hat."

"I'm going to go for hormone changes for a hundred, Bob."

She lightly whacked his arm. "Not funny. I don't do the crying thing. This sucks."

"Sorry."

"For what?"

Chris gestured to her abdomen. "You know. . .knocking you up."

"Oh good grief," she muttered, throwing open the car door and hopping down, pulling her book bag behind her. As she slammed the door, "You're not going to apologize every time something about this sucks are you?"

Chris came around the truck to walk next to her up to the building. "Probably."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "You're going to treat me like glass aren't you?"

"Probably."

"You realize I will hurt you, right?"

"Probably," he answered with a grin.

She rolled her eyes again, but linked arms with him, lying her head on his shoulder until they reached the back doors of the building. Once they got inside, she lifted her head, releasing him as she noticed almost every eye at one point turn in their direction.

The young woman slid a look to her friend, whispering, "I'm not just imagining everyone looking at us, right?"

"No. We're definitely getting stared at."

"Why?"

"I have no idea."

"Okay. . .weird."

As Casey turned to head up the first staircase to get to her locker on the second floor, she noticed Chris come up with her. She paused half-way up the staircase. "Did you forget your locker is on the other side of the building?"

"I have the book I need in my bag. Figured I'd walk you to class."

"Not that I mind, but why?"

Chris shot her a mischievous look. "Don't want the glass to break."

"I am so tempted to push you down the stairs for that one."

The two laughed, finishing the flight of stairs and turning the corner to the right to reach Casey's locker. On the way they noticed more staring in their direction. As a group of girls actually started giggling, their eyes focused on the magical duo, Casey turned to Chris to ask worriedly, "They couldn't know, could they?"

"Impossible," Chris answered. "It's probably a rumor about us dating again or something. Maybe they think I've moved on from Molly too quickly, and it's the latest school scandal. Who the hell knows what goes through their minds?"

Asking quietly, "I never got a chance to ask you yesterday– how are things with you guys?"

Chris shoved his hands into his pockets. "The words 'uphill struggle' come to mind. She wouldn't let me touch her, Case."

His friend turned to look at him, her gaze sympathetic. "Must have hurt. I'm sorry."

"You going to apologize every time something with me and her sucks?"

"Probably," she answered with a grin.

"Funny."

"I try."

Chris ran a hand through his hair. "She may still love me, but she definitely doesn't like me at the moment. I figure I should warn you– she all out hates you."

"Shocking," Casey answered. "Honestly can't blame the poor girl, though. I'm expecting to get sucker punched the next time I see her. Won't even try to stop her."

"She better not," Chris sharply stated. "I don't care how much she hates you. She has to be civil to you."

"Why?"

Chris raised his eyebrows pointedly.

"Oh. Right."

The two finally reached the end of the hall, stopping in front of Casey's locker. An odd noise was coming from within. A murmured sound, definitely not human, yet it seemed like some word was being said, though neither Chris nor Casey could figure out exactly what it was.

Chris was the one to move forward, punching in the numerical code, which he easily remember since Casey had been assigned the same locker she'd had before the move. He then yanked open the door, his mouth falling open at what was inside.

An old fashioned doll, hanging on the coat hooks by a pull string, was blinking its plastic eyes while repeatedly crying out, "Ma-ma. Ma-ma. Ma-ma."

Pinned onto the baby doll's little pink dress was a piece of paper with an exceptionally crude drawing on it. The words 'this is what comes from always spreading your legs' were scrawled above the image.

Chris was just about to reach into the locker and rip the thing down when the head of the doll suddenly exploded and he was forced to drop in order to avoid plastic shrapnel. When he looked up, the entire hall was frozen.

His gaze sought out his friend's, finding it void of expression. Her normally expressive eyes were dull, fixated on nothing. Meanwhile, two tears raced down her cheeks.

The witchlighter got to his feet and took her by the shoulders. "Case, I know you're upset, but you've got to unfreeze them, okay? If someone comes up those stairs, we're going to be in huge trouble."

She flicked out her hands, the scene taking action once more. Casey then turned to Chris, wiping roughly at the escaped tears. She sardonically said, "Least that power works now."

The young woman shook her head, hurt and rage combined in her every feature. "Who would do something this disgusting? And who the hell would even know?"

"Kip and Jess are the only ones we told. Someone must have heard us."

"But who?"

Chris let out a breath, "Someone who knew the combo to your locker."

The bell for class rang.

"Great," Casey muttered. "I can't go to class like this. I could end up blowing it up the way I feel right now."

"Then just wait. Being tardy never killed anyone. Losing control of your emotions while dealing with a new power just might. Now, think, Case, who knows your locker code?"

She ran a hand through her hair as she tried to think. "I don't know. You, Jess, Kip– though he probably only remembered for about five seconds. Wyatt used to. Sam, who couldn't have done it as he's currently without apposable thumbs."

"Okay, there had to be someone else who knew your combo, someone who hates you so much they'd tell the entire student body our secret and put that garbage in your locker."

Casey glanced over at the still in-one-piece note. She closed her eyes, turning away from the image and the hurtful words. "I don't know. I've never really gotten into it with anyone. Except for that time when. . ." Her eyes snapped open. "Oh my god."

"What?"

"I forgot she knew my combination. Sam was trying to surprise me, so he gave her my code, so she could sneak my birthday present inside while he was with me. She's been in love with Sam for a long time– probably thinks I'm the reason he only slept with her but never dated her."

Chris's face dawned with comprehension. "Valerie Stateton."

Casey stared at the hateful note, fire burning in her gaze. "Valerie Stateton."

tbc. . .